Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a biological scanner for scanning biological growth plates. A biological growth plate can be loaded into the biological scanner. Upon loading of a biological growth plate, the biological scanner generates an image of the plate and may perform an analysis of the image. Various embodiments are directed to loading features that facilitate automated loading and proper positioning of a plate within the biological scanner, and ejection features that facilitate the automated ejection of the plate from the scanner. Additional embodiments are directed to features that allow a scanner unit of the biological scanner to be attached to a mounting platform of the scanner in different possible configurations.

FIELD

The invention relates to techniques for analysis of biological growthplates to detect and enumerate bacteria or other biological agents infood samples, laboratory samples, and the like.

BACKGROUND

Biological safety is a paramount concern in modern society. Testing forbiological contamination in foods or other materials has become animportant, and sometimes mandatory requirement for developers anddistributors of food products. Biological testing is also used toidentify bacteria or other agents in laboratory samples such as bloodsamples taken from medical patients, laboratory samples developed forexperimental purposes, and other types of biological samples. Varioustechniques and devices can be utilized to improve biological testing andto streamline and standardize the biological testing process.

In particular, a wide variety of biological growth plates have beendeveloped. As one example, biological growth plates have been developedby 3M Company (hereafter “3M”) of St. Paul, Minn. Biological growthplates are sold by 3M under the trade name PETRIFILM plates. Biologicalgrowth plates can be utilized to facilitate the rapid growth anddetection of bacteria or other biological agents commonly associatedwith food contamination, including, for example, aerobic bacteria, E.coli, coliform, enterobacteriaceae, yeast, mold, Staphylococcus aureus,Listeria, Campylobacter,. The use of PETRIFILM plates, or other growthmedia, can simplify bacterial testing of food samples.

Biological growth plates can be used to enumerate or identify thepresence of bacteria so that corrective measures can be performed (inthe case of food testing) or proper diagnosis can be made (in the caseof medical use). In other applications, biological growth plates may beused to rapidly grow bacteria or other biological agents in laboratorysamples, e.g., for experimental purposes.

Biological scanners refer to devices used to scan or count bacterialcolonies, or the amount of a particular biological agent on a biologicalgrowth plate. For example, a food sample or laboratory sample can beplaced on a biological growth plate, and then the plate can be insertedinto an incubation chamber. After incubation, the biological growthplate can be placed into the biological scanner for automated detectionand enumeration of bacterial growth. In other words, biological scannersautomate the detection and enumeration of bacteria or other biologicalagents on a biological growth plate, and thereby improve the biologicaltesting process by reducing human error.

SUMMARY

In general, the invention is directed to a biological scanner forbiological growth plates. A biological growth plate is inserted into thebiological scanner. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, thebiological scanner generates an image of the plate and performs ananalysis of the image. For example, the amount of biological agents thatappear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can becounted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysisroutines performed by the biological scanner. In this manner, thebiological scanner automates the analysis of biological growth plates.

The biological scanner may incorporate an automated loading mechanismand an automated ejection mechanism to facilitate handling and analysisof biological growth plates by the scanner. The automated loadingmechanism may be configured to draw the growth plate into the scannerand place the growth plate in a scanning position. In addition, thebiological scanner may include a multiple orientation mounting platformthat permits the scanner to be selectively placed in different positionsfor convenience and space requirements. The mounting platform maycooperate with the ejection mechanism to permit selection of theposition of an ejection port for exit of the biological growth platefollowing analysis.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner forbiological growth plates comprising a drawer that opens to receive abiological growth plate and closes to move the plate into the scanner.The biological scanner may also include an apparatus, such as a clamp,pincer, securing lever, or the like, to temporarily hold the plate at alocation inside the scanner when the drawer is subsequently closedfollowing the movement of the plate into the scanner. The biologicalscanner may also include a conveyor to remove the plate from the scannerfollowing release of the plate by the apparatus when the drawer issubsequently opened. For example, the drawer may form part of a scannerunit of the biological scanner, and the conveyor may be housed in amounting platform of the scanner.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner forbiological growth plates comprising a scanner unit and a mountingplatform. The scanner unit receives a biological growth plate to bescan, and the mounting platform ejects the biological growth plate afterthe plate has been scanned. The scanner unit and the mounting platformcan be configured to allow the scanner unit and the mounting platform tobe coupled to one another in a plurality of different possible positionsrelative to one another. By way of example, the scanner unit may housean imaging device and a processor. In addition, the scanner unit mayinclude a drawer that opens to receive the plate and closes to move theplate into the scanner unit. The mounting platform may include aconveyor to eject the plate from a slot in the mounting platform afterthe plate has been scanned.

In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a biological scannerfor biological growth plates comprising a drawer that opens to receive abiological growth plate and closes to move the plate into the scanner.The drawer may include a platform on which the plate rests, and one ormore levers to elevate and lower the platform. In addition thebiological scanner may include a platen inside the scanner, wherein uponclosing the drawer, the lever(s) elevate the platform so that the plateis positioned adjacent the platen.

In an added embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner forscanning biological growth plates, the scanner comprising a scanner unitthat receives a biological growth plate to be scanned, and a mountingplatform that ejects the biological growth plate after the plate hasbeen scanned, wherein the scanner unit is positionable on the mountingplatform in a plurality of different possible positions.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner forscanning biological growth plates, the scanner comprising a scanner unitthat scans biological growth plates, and a platform to support thescanner unit, wherein one of the platform and the scanner unit deliversoperating power to the other of the platform and the scanner unit andthe scanner unit is positionable on the mounting platform in differentpositions.

The invention may provide a number of advantages. For example, theinvention may ensure that a biological growth plate can be inserted intoa biological scanner, properly positioned within the scanner, imaged orotherwise scanned to identify or enumerate amounts of biological agents,and then ejected from the biological scanner in an automated fashion. Inparticular, the configurations described herein can automate theinsertion and positioning of biological growth plates in a manner thatensures that reliable imaging can occur, thereby improving the integrityof automated scanning of such biological growth plates. Automation ofthe ejection of the plate from the biological scanner can also simplifythe process for a user. Furthermore, the ability to select the positionof the scanner unit relative to a mounting platform can allow thebiological scanner to be conveniently placed in different laboratoryenvironments that have different layouts or space limitations, e.g.,while consistently providing operating power from the mounting platformto the biological scanner unit or from the biological scanner unit tothe mounting platform in each position.

Additional details of these and other embodiments are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objectsand advantages will become apparent from the description and drawings,and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biological scanner in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of an exemplary biological scanner.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views of an exemplary growth plate.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating exemplary internalcomponents of a biological scanner.

FIGS. 6A–6C are cross-sectional side views collectively illustratingoperation of a loading mechanism for loading a biological growth plateinto a biological scanner.

FIGS. 7A–7C are additional cross-sectional side views illustrating theoperation of a loading mechanism and an ejection mechanism.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are additional perspective views of a biological scannerin accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplary electrical couplingconfiguration for a mounting platform and scanning unit of a biologicalscanner.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate another exemplary electrical couplingconfiguration for a mounting platform and scanning unit of a biologicalscanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is directed to a biological scanner for biological growthplates. A biological growth plate can be presented to the biologicalscanner, which generates an image of the plate and may perform ananalysis of the image to detect biological growth.

In particular, the scanner may enumerate or otherwise quantify an amountof biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number ofbacteria colonies. In this manner, the biological scanner automates theanalysis of biological growth plates, thereby improving such analysisand reducing the possibility of human error.

In addition, the biological scanner may incorporate an automated loadingand ejection system that facilitates handling of biological growthplates, as well as a multiple-position mounting platform that enablesthe biological scanner to occupy different orientations for ease ofplacement and use in a variety of laboratory environments presentingdifferent space limitations and layout characteristics.

The invention may be useful with a variety of biological growth plates.For example, the invention may be useful with different plate-likedevices for growing biological agents to enable detection and/orenumeration of the agents, such as thin-film culture plate devices,Petri dish culture plate devices, and the like. Therefore, the term“biological growth plate” will be used broadly herein to refer to amedium suitable for growth of biological agents to permit detection andenumeration of the agents by a scanner. In some embodiments, thebiological growth plate can be housed in a cassette that supportsmultiple plates, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,950 toGraessle et al.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biological scanner 10 in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, biological scanner10 includes a drawer 12 that receives a biological growth plate, andmoves the growth plate into biological scanner 10 for scanning andanalysis. Biological scanner 10 also includes an ejection slot 14through which the growth plate can be ejected following analysis of thebiological growth plate. Biological scanner 10 may also include otherfeatures, such as a display screen 16 to display the progress or resultsof analysis of the biological growth plate to a user. Alternatively oradditionally, display screen 16 may present to a user an image of theplate inserted into biological scanner 10 via drawer 12. In someembodiments, the displayed image may be optically magnified or digitallyscaled upward.

As further shown in FIG. 1, biological scanner 10 may have a two-partdesign. In particular, biological scanner 10 may have a scanner unit 18and a mounting platform 19. Scanner unit 18 is mounted on mountingplatform 19 and, as will be explained, may occupy multiple orientationsrelative to the mounting platform. In the example of FIG. 1, scannerunit 18 includes a drawer 12, which extends outward from the scannerunit 18 to receive a biological growth plate and retracts into thescanner unit 18 to place the biological growth plate into scanner 10 foranalysis. Scanner unit 18 also houses an imaging device for scanning thebiological growth plate and generating an image of an inserted plate. Inaddition, scanner unit 18 may house a processor that performs analysisof the scanned image, e.g., in order to determine the level ofbiological agents in the plate. For example, upon insertion of thebiological growth plate via drawer 12, the plate may be positionedadjacent to a platen which is also housed within scanner unit 18. Animage of the growth plate can be captured when the plate is positionedadjacent to a platen. Then, when the drawer 12 is subsequently opened,the plate drops downward into the mounting platform 19 for ejection viaejection slot 14.

Mounting platform 19 houses a conveyor that ejects a plate frombiological scanner 10 via ejection slot 14. After a biological growthplate is inserted into drawer 12, moved into scanner unit 18, andscanned, the biological growth plate drops into mounting platform 19,where a horizontal conveyor, such as a moving belt, ejects the plate viaslot 14. A display screen 16 on scanner unit 18 of scanner 10 maydisplay results of analysis of a plate being scanned.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of biological scanner 10. As shown inFIG. 2, drawer 12 extends outward from biological scanner 10 to receivea biological growth plate 20. As illustrated, drawer 12 may include aplatform 22 on which plate 20 rests, and a set of cam levers 24, whichfacilitate the precise positioning of plate 20 within scanner 10. Uponplacement of biological growth plate 20 on platform 22, drawer 12retracts into scanner unit 18 to place the biological growth plate in ascanning position, i.e., a position at which the biological growth plateis optically scanned.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views of an exemplary growth plate 20. By way ofexample, a suitable growth plate 20 may comprise biological growthplates sold by 3M under the trade name PETRIFILM plates. Alternatively,biological growth plate 20 may comprise other biological growth platesfor growing particular bacteria or other biological agents. Biologicalgrowth plates 20, for example, may facilitate the rapid growth anddetection of bacteria or other biological agents including, for example,aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliform, enterobacteriaceae, yeast, mold,Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, Campylobacter and the like. The use ofPETRIFILM plates, or other growth plates, can simplify bacterial testingof food samples. Moreover, as outlined herein, biological scanner 10 canfurther simplify such testing by automating the process of scanningresults on a biological growth plate 20, e.g., by counting bacterialcolonies on an image of the plate.

As shown in FIG. 3, biological growth plate 20A biological growth plate20 defines a growth area 30. Optionally, growth area 30 may be a flatsurface or a recessed well. A determination of whether a given samplebeing tested in plate 20A is acceptable, in terms of bacterial colonycounts, may depend on the number of bacterial colonies per unit area.Accordingly, scanner 10 quantifies the amount of bacterial colonies perunit area on plate 20A, and may compare the amount, or “count,” to athreshold. The surface of biological growth plate 20A may contain one ormore growth enhancing agents designed to facilitate the rapid growth ofone or more types of bacteria or other biological agents.

After placing a sample of the material being tested (typically in liquidform) on the surface of biological growth plate 20A, plate 20A can beinserted into an incubation chamber (not shown). In the incubationchamber, bacterial colonies or other biological agents being grown bygrowth plate 20 manifest themselves, as shown in biological growth plate20B of FIG. 4. The colonies (represented by the various dots onbiological growth plate 20B) may appear in different colors on plate20B, which can facilitate and improve automated detection by scanner 10.

In some cases, a biological growth plate 20 may include identification(ID) markings to identify the type of biological agent being grown andtested by the given plate, or to identify the manufacturer of the platefor quality assurance purposes. Moreover, the detection andinterpretation of the ID markings may be automated within biologicalscanner 10. For example, a processor within biological scanner 10 mayimplement different image processing routines or counting algorithms tocount different types of bacterial colonies grown on different types ofgrowth plates, as identified by the ID markings.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating internal operation ofbiological scanner 10. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a biological growthplate 20 is positioned within biological scanner 10 on platform 22 ofdrawer 12 (not shown in FIG. 5). More specifically, inside scanner unit18 of biological scanner 10, platform 22 elevates biological growthplate 20 to position the growth plate adjacent to a platen 52. In otherwords, inside scanner unit 18 of biological scanner 10, biologicalgrowth plate 20 is sandwiched between platform 22 and platen 52. Platen52 may define a focal plane for radiation emitted by an imaging device54 to scan biological growth plate 20. Accordingly, platen 52 isoptically transparent, permitting transmission of the radiation to thesurface of growth plate 20. In some cases, platform 22 may comprise afirst platen and platen 52 may comprise a second platen withinbiological scanner 10. In that case, it would be desirable to positionthe plate between the two platens, e.g., in a sandwich-likeconfiguration, to facilitate illumination on both sides of the plateduring imaging.

Imaging device 54 generates an image of biological growth plate 20 byscanning radiation across growth plate 20 and capturing reflected ortransmitted radiation to form an image. In some embodiments, imagingdevice 54 may be formed by a collection of discrete components,including illumination subsystem and an image capture subsystem. Theillumination subsystem may take the form of a variety of radiationsources such as lamps, light emitting diodes, and the like. The imagecapture subsystem may take the form of a line or area camera thatreceives reflected or transmitted radiation.

A processor 56 controls the illumination and image capture processes,and processes captured imagery to identify or enumerate the amount ofbiological agents in plate 20 based on the generated image. For example,imaging device 54 may comprise a camera that generates one or moredigital images of biological growth plate 20 and provides the digitalimages of processor 56 for analysis. Processor 56 generates results,such as a bacterial colony count, and presents the results to a user,e.g., by driving display screen 16 (FIG. 1) to display the results. Inaddition, processor 56 may identify ID markings on plate 20, and selectan appropriate image processing routine and biological analysisalgorithm based on the type of plate being used. For example, thecounting of bacterial colonies or other biological agents may beperformed differently for different types of plates, e.g., plates usedto grow different types of bacteria.

In one exemplary embodiment, platform 22 comprises a first platen thatprovides back illumination to biological growth plate 20 via a threecolor illumination system, which may incorporate red, green and blue(RGB) illumination LEDs. In that case, the RGB LEDs may provide sideillumination to platform 22 and thereby provide back illumination to abiological growth plate 20 that rests on platform 22. In addition,similar RGB illumination LEDs may be used to provide top illumination ofplaten 52. front illumination can be delivered to biological growthplate 20 via platen 52. Thus, platform 22 and platen 52 may collectivelyform an illumination chamber used to provide front and back illuminationto biological growth plate 20. Exemplary front and back illuminationsystems are described, for example, in copending and commonly assignedU.S. application Ser. No. 10/305,722, to Graessle et al., filed Nov. 27,2002, titled “BIOLOGICAL GROWTH PLATE SCANNER,” and U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/306,663, to Graessle et al., filed Nov. 27, 2002, titled“BACK SIDE PLATE ILLUMINATION FOR BIOLOGICAL GROWTH PLATE SCANNER,” thecontent of each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Upon illumination, imaging device 54 captures one or more images ofbiological growth plate 20 and provides the image(s) to processor 56 foranalysis. In one example, imaging device 54 comprises a monochromaticimaging device that captures monochromatic images of biological growthplate 20. For example, biological growth plate 20 may be illuminated byone or more red LEDs, at which time imaging device 54 generates a firstimage. Then, biological growth plate 20 may be illuminated by one ormore green LEDs, at which time imaging device 54 generates a secondimage. Finally, biological growth plate 20 may be illuminated by one ormore blue LEDs, at which time imaging device 54 generates a third image.

Processor 56 receives the three different monochromatic images and thenperforms analysis on the individual images in order to generate abacterial colony count. The use of a monochromatic imaging device 54 togenerate one or more separate monochromatic images may improve imageresolution for each color, and at the same time, can reduceimplementation costs associated with imaging device 54. The differentimages can be combined by processor 56 for viewing or analysis purposes.Alternatively, or in addition, processor 56 may analyze individualimages obtained during illumination with individual colors.

In some embodiments, scanner 10 may process images of differentbiological growth plates 20 according to different image processingprofiles. The image processing profiles may be selected based on userinput or identification of the type of biological growth plate 20presented to scanner 10. The image processing profile may specifyparticular image capture conditions, such as illumination intensities,exposure durations, and colors, for capturing images of particular platetypes. Thus, the scanner may apply different image capture conditions,including different illumination conditions, in processing images ofdifferent biological growth plates 20.

As an illustration, some types of biological growth plates 20 mayrequire illumination with a particular color, intensity and duration. Inaddition, some biological growth plates 20 may require only front orback illumination, but not both. For example, an aerobic count plate mayrequire only front illumination as well as illumination by only a singlecolor such as red. Alternatively, an E. coli/Coliform plate may requireonly back illumination and a combination of red and blue illumination.Similarly, particular intensity levels and durations may be appropriate.For these reasons, illumination may be controlled in response to imagecapture conditions specified by an image processing profile.

After plate 20 has been scanned by biological scanner 10, platform 22moves to release plate 20 onto conveyor 58, which is housed in mountingplatform 19. In particular, drawer 12 (not shown in FIG. 5) re-opens towithdraw platform 22 from the scanner unit 18 of biological scanner 10.At that point, however, plate 20 may be temporarily held in place, e.g.,by a clamp, pincer, securing lever, or other apparatus as outlined ingreater detail below. Consequently, the subsequent movement of platform22 from scanner unit 18 does not move plate 20 from its locationadjacent platen 52. Instead, once platform 22 has been moved, theapparatus (not shown in FIG. 5) temporally holding plate 20 adjacentplaten 52 can release plate 20 to fall onto conveyor 58 of mountingplatform 19. Conveyor 58 ejects the biological growth plate 20 frommounting platform 19 of biological scanner 10 via slot 14 (FIG. 1).

FIGS. 6A–6C are cross-sectional side views collectively illustrating themovement of a drawer 12 into the biological scanner 10, causingelevation of a biological growth plate 20 into a desired location withinbiological scanner 10. In particular, drawer 12 moves laterally outwardfrom scanner unit 18 to open and thereby receive a biological plate 20placed on platform 22 by a user. Drawer 12 then retracts into scannerunit 18 to place biological growth plate 20 in a scanning position. Amotor or other suitable mechanical control mechanism can be used toactuate drawer 12 for the lateral movement which opens and closes drawer12. To open drawer 12, a user may push inward against the drawer ordepress an eject button (not shown) on scanner unit 18. Similarly, toclose drawer 12, the user may again push inward against the drawer ordepress the eject button. In each case, drawer 12 may be coupled to aswitch that senses the force applied inward against the drawer andtoward scanner unit 18 by the user. A motor or other mechanical controlmechanism may be responsive to the switch to automatically open andclose the door.

Drawer 12 includes a platform 22 mounted on a sliding cartridge 62 vialevers 24A and 24B or another suitable attachment mechanism. Slidingcartridge 62, in turn, may attach to the motor (not shown) that causesthe lateral movement of drawer 12. As an example, the motor may drivesliding cartridge 62 via a variety of mechanical transmissions, such asa lead screw or pulley arrangement. A spring 64, or the like, can beused to add a spring bias to platform 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and6B, drawer 12 moves laterally into biological scanner 10. As shown inFIG. 6B, this lateral movement (illustrated by the arrow) causes aleading edge 63 of platform 22 to abut stop 66.

Once platform 22 abuts stop 66, additional lateral movement of platform22 is impeded, such that relative movement between sliding cartridge 62and platform 22 causes platform 22 to elevate. More specifically,additional lateral movement of sliding cartridge 62 (from the positionillustrated in FIG. 6B to that illustrated in 6C) causes levers 24 topivot and thereby elevate platform 22 to a location adjacent platen 52.In other words, the elevation of platform 22 places plate 20 at adesired location within scanner 10, i.e., adjacent platen 52, where animage of plate 20 can be taken for analysis.

Levers 24 may be connected approximately near the four corners ofplatform, or a greater or fewer number of levers may be used. In anycase, levers 24 can be configured to raise and lower in only one lateraldirection so that once platform 22 is completely elevated, the lateralmovement of sliding cartridge 62 is inhibited. Additionally, onceplatform 22 has elevated biological growth plate 20 to this desiredlocation, plate spring 64 may flex to further bias plate 20 againstplaten 52. At this point, one or more images of biological growth plate20 can be scanned and processed, and then used for analysis to determinethe amount of biological agents grown on plate 20.

FIGS. 7A–7C are additional exemplary cross-sectional side viewsillustrating the movement of a drawer 12 into the biological scanner 10and the subsequent ejection of drawer 12 from biological scanner 10. Asillustrated in FIGS. 7A–7C, biological scanner 10 includes an apparatus72 that temporarily holds plate 20C at the location adjacent platen 52.As shown in FIG. 7A, drawer 12 moves laterally into the scanner to moveplate 20C to a location where it can be imaged. FIG. 7B shows biologicalscanner 10 with the drawer 12 moved into the scanner unit 18 to positionplate 20C. In that case, platform 22 has elevated plate 20C to thedesired location where imaging can occur, i.e., adjacent platen 52.

In the example of FIGS. 7A–7C, apparatus 72 comprises a clamp, pincer,securing lever, or the like, to temporally hold plate 20C at thelocation adjacent platen 52. Accordingly, when drawer 12 is subsequentlyopened (as illustrated in FIG. 7C), apparatus 72 temporarily holds plate20C at that same location, preventing the plate from being withdrawnfrom scanner unit 18 with drawer 12. In other words, when drawer 12 issubsequently opened, plate 20C does not remain on platform 22. Instead,apparatus 72 temporarily holds plate 20C at the location adjacent platen52 when the drawer is subsequently opened. Then, once drawer 12 hasopened a sufficient amount, vacating an area beneath growth plate 20C,apparatus 72 releases plate 20C, which falls onto a motor drivenconveyor 58 housed within mounting platform 19 of biological scanner 10.

Conveyor 58 moves biological growth plate 20C to eject it frombiological scanner 10 via ejection slot 14 in mounting platform 19. Uponprojection of drawer 12 outward from scanner unit 18 and ejection ofbiological growth plate 20C from ejection slot 14, another biologicalgrowth plate 20D can be inserted onto platform 22 of drawer 12 formovement into biological scanner 10. In this manner, another biologicalgrowth plate 20 can be inserted into biological scanner 10, properlypositioned within the scanner unit 18, imaged or otherwise scanned toidentify or enumerate amounts of biological agents, and then ejectedfrom biological scanner 10. The configuration of scanner 10 describedherein, automates the insertion, positioning, and ejection of biologicalgrowth plates in a manner that ensures that reliable imaging can occurand promotes user convenience, thereby improving the integrity ofautomated scanning of such biological growth plates.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are additional perspective views of a biological scanner10 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Again,biological scanner 10 includes a drawer 12 that can receive a biologicalgrowth plate, and move the plate into biological scanner 10. Biologicalscanner 10 also includes ejection slot 14 through which the plate 20 canbe ejected following analysis. For example, following analysis of thebiological growth plate 20 inside scanner unit 18, the plate 20 may bereleased, as outlined herein, to fall through hole 85 and into mountingplatform 19. A conveyor (not shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B) housed inmounting platform 19 can then eject the plate 20 via ejection slot 14.Biological scanner 10 may also include other features, such as a displayscreen 16 to display the analysis of the biological plate to a user, asfurther shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, scanner unit 18 andmounting platform 19 of biological scanner 10 are detachable from oneanother. Furthermore, scanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19 ofbiological scanner 10 are re-configurable, in that scanner unit 18 andmounting platform 19 can be rotated relative to one another. In otherwords, scanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19 can be attached to oneanother in one of a plurality of different positions. Accordingly,drawer 12 of scanner unit 18 and the ejection slot 14 of mountingplatform 19 can be positioned along a common side of biological scanner10 (as illustrated in FIG. 8A), or alternatively, drawer 12 of scannerunit 18 and the ejection slot 14 of mounting platform 19 can bepositioned such that they are not on a common side of biological scanner10 (as illustrated in FIG. 8B). This re-configurability can allowbiological scanner 10 to be placed in different laboratory environmentsthat have different space limitations or layout concerns.

In order to facilitate the attachment of scanner unit 18 to mountingplatform 19 in different relative positions, scanner unit 18 may includepins 82 that mate with sockets 84 formed in mounting platform 19.Alternatively, mounting platform 19 may include the pins 82 and scannerunit may be formed with the sockets 84. The term “socket,” as usedherein, may refer to a variety of hole, receptacle or other femaleterminal structures capable of engagement with a pin. The term “pin,” asused herein, may refer to a variety of peg, pin, plug, protrusion orother male terminal structures capable of engagement with a socket. Pinsand sockets 82, 84 form electrical interfaces for communication of powerbetween mounting platform 19 and scanner unit 18. For example, scannerunit 18 may provide operating power to mounting platform 19.Alternatively, mounting platform 19 may provide operationg power toscanner unit 18 via pins and sockets 82, 84. In some embodiments, pinsand sockets 82, 84 also may communicate control or status signals, e.g.,to control operation of the conveyor in mounting platform 19. Inaddition to providing electrical connections, pins and sockets 82, 84may provide mechanical positioning, alignment and registration. betweenscanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19.

Other cooperative engagement hardware may be provided in place of pinsand sockets. In any case, the distance between any two sockets 84 alonga common side of mounting platform 19 and the distance between any twopins 18 along a common side of scanner unit 18 is substantially thesame. Accordingly, pins 82A and 82B of scanner unit 18 can mate withsockets 84A and 84B of mounting platform 19 when the scanner unit andmounting platform are coupled to one another in a first position asillustrated in FIG. 8A, or alternatively, pins 82A and 82B of scannerunit 18 can mate with sockets 84B and 84C of mounting platform 19 whenthe scanner unit and mounting platform are coupled to one another in asecond position as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The mounting arrangementdepicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B permits scanner unit 18 to be rotatedthree-hundred sixty degrees (ninety degrees between adjacent positions)between four different positions.

In some embodiments, scanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19 may haveseparate power supplies, e.g., separate batteries or separate AC powercords. Alternatively, a single power supply or power cord may be used.In the latter case, one or more pins 82 and one or more sockets 84 mayinclude electrical connectors that electrically couple scanner unit 18to mounting platform 19 and facilitate the transfer of electricalcurrent between the scanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19. Moreover,in some embodiments, control signals may be transferred between scannerunit 18 and mounting platform 19, e.g., to control on/off switching ofthe conveyor within mounting platform 19 when a plate is to be ejected.Alternatively, the conveyor within mounting platform 19 may runsubstantially all the time when power is supplied, without beingcontrolled by on/off switching.

In one example, one or more of the pins 82 may be “active” in the sensethat they provide both an electrical interface to facilitate thetransfer of electrical current, and a signal transfer interface tofacilitate the transfer of control signals. Each of sockets 84 may beconfigured to couple with either the active pin or one of the passivepins that do not include electrical interfaces. In this manner, currentand control signals can be transferred between scanner unit 18 andmounting platform 19 regardless of the relative positioning of theportions 18, 19. Many other types of electrical and control signalconnections could also be used, including, for example, internal orexternal cords, wires, or the like.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplary electrical couplingconfiguration for a mounting platform and scanning unit of a biologicalscanner. In particular, FIG. 9A provides a top view of mounting platform19 and FIG. 9B provides a bottom view of scanner unit 18. A dioderectifier bridge 86 and other electrical coupling hardware isrepresented functionally in FIG. 9A to depict an exemplary electricalcoupling configuration. In operation, as scanner unit 18 is placed onmounting platform 19, sockets or pins 84A–84D engage reciprocal socketsor pins 82A–82D on the mounting platform. For purposes of illustration,it will be assumed that scanner unit 18 includes sockets 84 and mountingplatform 19 includes pins 82.

Pins 82 engage sockets 84 upon placement of scanner unit 18 on mountingplatform 19. In some embodiments, sockets 84 may define eitherspring-loaded electrical contacts for electrically conductive engagementwith pins 82 or insulative surfaces to electrically insulate pins 82. Inthe example of FIG. 9B, scanner unit includes a first socket 84A havingan electrical contact, a second socket 84B having an insulating surface,a third socket 84C having an insulating surface, and a fourth socket 84Dhaving an electrical contact. Accordingly, two pins 82 from mountingplatform 19 are electrically coupled to sockets 84A, 84D, depending onthe orientation of scanner unit 18 relative to the mounting platform. Inparticular, either pin 82A or 82B is coupled to one of sockets 84A or84D, which are mounted on diagonally opposing corners of scanner unit10. Similarly, either pin 82C or 82D is coupled to one of sockets 84A or84D. In this manner, one of pins 82A, 82B is electrically coupled andthe other is electrically insulated, while one of pins 82C, 82D iselectrically coupled and the other is electrically insulated. Insulatingsurfaces in sockets 84B, 84C serve to prevent shorting of the two unusedpins 82 to the housing of scanner 10 or other surfaces.

Diode rectifier bridge 86 serves to deliver a steady power supply frommounting platform 19 to electronics within scanner unit 18, or viceversa, regardless of the orientation of the mounting platform andscanner unit. As shown in FIG. 9A, opposing terminals 87, 89 of dioderectifier bridge 86 are coupled across a motor 91 housed within mountingplatform 19. Motor 91 drives a conveyor within mounting platform 19.Terminal 93 of diode rectifier bridge 86 is coupled to pins 82A, 82B,one of which is coupled to a conductive socket 84A, 84D in scanner unit18. Terminal 95 of diode rectifier bridge 86 is coupled to pins 82C,82D, one of which is coupled to a conductive socket 84A, 84D in scannerunit 18. In this manner, conductive sockets 84A, 84D receive a constantsource of power from mounting platform 19 regardless of the orientationof scanner unit 18 relative to the mounting platform. Alternatively,conductive pins 82C, 82D receive a constant source of power from scannerunit 18.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate another exemplary electrical couplingconfiguration for mounting platform 19 and scanning unit 18 ofbiological scanner 10. In the example of FIGS. 10A and 10B, conductivesockets 84A, 84B in scanner unit 18 are disposed adjacent one another,i.e., on adjacent corners of the scanner unit. To support supply ofpower from mounting platform 19 to scanner unit 18, or vice versa,regardless of the orientation of scanner unit 18, the mounting platformincludes an alternative arrangement for diode rectifier bridge 88 andpins 82.

As shown in FIG. 10A, terminals 97, 99 of diode rectifier bridge 88 arecoupled across a motor 101. Also, pins 82A and 82D are electricallycoupled to one another, and to terminal 103 of diode rectifier bridge88. Similarly, pins 82B and 82C are electrically coupled to one another,and to terminal 105 of diode rectifier bridge 88. In operation, eitherpin 82A or 82D is coupled to one of sockets 84A or 84D, which aremounted on adjacent corners of scanner unit 10. Similarly, either pin82B or 82C is coupled to one of sockets 84A or 84 b. In this manner, oneof pins 82A, 82D is electrically coupled and the other is electricallyinsulated, while one of pins 82B, 82C is electrically coupled and theother is electrically insulated. Again, the arrangement shown in FIGS.10A and 10B serves to provide a continuous source of power from mountingplatform 19 to scanner unit 18, or vice versa, without regard to therelative positioning of the scanner unit and the mounting platform.

In general, scanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19 of scanner 10provide multiple possible positions. More particularly, scanner unit 18and mounting platform 19 may permit selective relative positioning thatsupport continued supply of power, e.g., without the need to disconnectcables or actuate switches. Instead, the user may convenientlyreposition scanner unit 18 and mounting platform 19 to obtain desiredplate loading and ejection orientations, which may be a function of alaboratory environment and applicable space limitations.

A number of embodiments of a biological scanner have been described. Forexample, techniques and structures have been described for automatingthe insertion of biological growth plates into a scanner and theejection of biological growth plates from the scanner. In particular,the insertion and ejection techniques described herein can ensure thatreliable imaging can occur within the biological scanner. Also, are-configurability feature for a biological scanner has been describedin which a scanner unit of the biological scanner can be attached to amounting platform of the scanner in one of a plurality of possibleconfigurations. This re-configurability feature can allow the biologicalscanner to be placed in different laboratory environments that havedifferent space limitations or concerns.

Nevertheless, various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. For example, one or more featuresdescribed herein may be used with or without other described features.Moreover, several features described herein may be used in a biologicalscanner that simply generates a high quality image of the biologicalgrowth plate, and presents the high quality image to a user foranalysis. In that case, a processor used to count bacterial colonies maybe eliminated in favor of a less complicated processor that simplypresents images to a user. In other words, the processor may simplydrive a display such as display 16 (FIG. 1) to present a high qualityimage of the plate to a user so that the user can analyze the image andidentify or enumerate the number of bacterial colonies. These and otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A biological scanner for scanning biological growth plates, thescanner comprising: a scanner unit configured to receive a biologicalgrowth plate to be scanned, wherein the scanner unit houses an imagingdevice and a processor and is configured to scan the biological growthplate, the imaging device being configured to generate an image of theplate and the processor being configured to count biological agents inthe plate based on the image; and a mounting platform configured toeject the biological growth plate after the plate has been scanned,wherein the scanner unit is configured to be positioned on the mountingplatform in a plurality of different possible positions.
 2. A biologicalscanner for scanning biological growth plates, the scanner comprising: ascanner unit configured to receive a biological growth plate to bescanned, wherein the scanner unit includes a drawer that opens toreceive the plate and closes to move the plate into the scanner unit;and a mounting platform configured to eject the biological growth plateafter the plate has been scanned, wherein the scanner unit is configuredto be positioned on the mounting platform in a plurality of differentpossible positions.
 3. A biological scanner for scanning biologicalgrowth plates, the scanner comprising: a scanner unit configured toreceive a biological growth plate to be scanned; and a mounting platformconfigured to eject the biological growth plate after the plate has beenscanned, wherein the scanner unit is configured to be positioned on themounting platform in a plurality of different possible positions,wherein the mounting platform includes a conveyor to eject the platefrom a slot in the mounting platform.
 4. The biological scanner of claim1, wherein the scanner unit includes a drawer that opens to receive theplate and closes to move the plate into the scanner and wherein themounting platform includes a conveyor configured to eject the plate froma slot in the mounting platform such that after the plate is receivedand scanned and the drawer is re-opened, the plate falls onto theconveyor, wherein when the scanner unit and the mounting platform arecoupled to one another in a first position, the drawer and the slot arepositioned along a common side of the scanner, and when the scanner unitand the mounting platform are coupled to one another in a secondposition, the drawer and the slot are not positioned along a common sideof the scanner.
 5. A biological scanner for scanning biological growthplates, the scanner comprising: a scanner unit configured to receive abiological growth plate to be scanned; and a mounting platformconfigured to elect the biological growth plate after the plate has beenscanned, wherein the scanner unit is configured to be positioned on themounting platform in a plurality of different possible positions, andwherein at least one of the scanner unit and the mounting platformincludes a plurality of electrical interfaces and the scanner unit andthe mounting platform can be electrically coupled to one another via oneor more of the electrical interfaces in the plurality of differentpossible positions relative to one another.
 6. The biological scanner ofclaim 1, wherein the scanner unit defines a plurality of pins that matewith a plurality of sockets in the mounting platform, wherein a firstpin mates with a first socket when the scanner unit and the mountingplatform are coupled to one another in a first position and wherein thefirst pin mates with a second socket when the scanner unit and themounting platform are coupled to one another in a second position. 7.The biological scanner of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform definesa plurality of pins that mate with a plurality of sockets in the scannerunit, wherein a first pin mates with a first socket when the scannerunit and the mounting platform are coupled to one another in a firstposition and wherein the first pin mates with a second socket when thescanner unit end the mounting platform are coupled to one another in asecond position.
 8. The biological scanner of claim 1, furthercomprising: a drawer formed in the scanner unit that opens to receivethe biological growth plate and closes to move the plate into thescanner; a platen inside the scanner unit, wherein the plate ispositioned adjacent the platen when the drawer is closed to move theplate into the scanner; an apparatus inside the scanner unit thattemporarily holds the plate adjacent the platen when the drawer issubsequently opened following movement of the plate into the scanner andreleases the plate into the mounting platform following the subsequentopening of the drawer; a conveyor inside the mounting platform thatremoves the plate from the mounting platform via a slot in the mountingplatform following release of the plate by the apparatus when the draweris subsequently opened.
 9. A method comprising: attaching a scanner unitof a biological scanner to a mounting platform of the biologicalscanner, the scanner unit being configured to receive a biologicalgrowth plate and the mounting platform being configured to eject thebiological growth plate removing the scanner unit from the mountingplatform; and reattaching the scanner unit to the mounting platform in adifferent position relative to the mounting platform.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising counting a number of biological agents inthe biological growth plate when the plate is positioned inside thescanner unit.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein counting a number ofbiological agents includes imaging the plate and counting biologicalagents based on an image of the plate.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the biological growth plate is a thin film culture plate.